Drinking straw



Nov. 5, 1963 A. GRAHAM 3,109,590

DRINKING STRAW Filed March 22, 1961 "Fig. I

INVENTOR.

Arthur Graham JM @JJ.)

Attorneys material.

United States Patent 3,109,590 DRINKING STRAW Arthur Graham, Palo Alto, Calif. Filed Mar. 22, 1961, Ser. No. 97,690 9 Claims. (Cl. 239-33) This invention relates generally to drinking straws or tubes, such as are commonly used in drug stores, bar

rooms, restaurants, homes, and the like. This is a con-.

tinuation-in-part of my previously filed application, Serial No. 21,301, filed April 11, 1960, now abandoned.

In general, it is an object of the invention to improve upon the construction of such straws, whereby an end of the straw is reinforced to prevent collapse during use.

:It is another object of the invention to provide a drinking straw of the above type which has a reinforced end or tip fabricated solely from the material of the straw.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description and from the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a detailed view in section of an end of a drinking straw embodying the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a like view of another embodiment of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a view in section and elevation of a further embodiment of the invention; and

FIGURE 4 is a detailed view in section and elevation showing a further embodiment of the invention.

Drinking straws or tubes are widely used as a means to draw or sip beverages from a container, being used by children as well as adults. One difficulty encountered heretofore with virtually all such devices is a tendency of the mouth or tip of the straw to deform under the pressure of the lips and fingers of the user. 'In addition, the cut end of the conventional paper straw tends to absorb'moisture by capillary action, causing deterioration and loss of strength at this point of greatest use. The net effect is a collapse of the straw tip to obstruct the fluid path so that it becomes virtually impossible to draw liquid into the mouth.- A solution to this difiiculty, which is familiar to any one who has used conventional straw constructions, is greatly to be desired.

Generally stated, a drinking straw in accordance with my invention includes means associated with an end of the straw adapted to resist inward collapse of the straw Broadly, such means comprises an uncut end portion of the straw which has been curled or deformed inwardly to form a concentric reinforcing inner layer integral with the remaining portions of the straw. My invention contemplates that such straw and reinforcing means may be fabricated from conventional spirally wound and glued straw stock. It also contemplates that the straw may be coated with or dipped in a moisture resistant reinforcing material, such as a solidifying wax or plastic composition, either before or after formation of the end reinforcing means, or both before and after such step. It additionally contemplates that the straws may be fabricated from less conventional straw stock, for example extruded plastic, spirallynwound cellophane, composition materials, and so on.

Broad aspects of my new straw construction can best be understood by a brief description of a preferred technique involved in making the same. Generally, each straw is initially subjected to rapid rotation to achieve a spinning motion of the straw about its own axis. One end of the rotating straw is then engaged with means adapted to urge a portion of the peripheral end wall of the straw inward towards its axis of rotation. These simultaneous operations effect a rapid inward deformation of the peripheral end wall of the straw, followed by a rapid curling of the deformed portion inwardly upon itself to form an inner 3,109,590 Patented Nov. 5, 1963 ice i and apparatus can be employed.

The resulting reinforced tip or end of the straw designated at 40 in the drawings, possesses substantially increased structural strength, as compared with the tip of a conventional straw, and presents no out ends or fibers 'adapted to absorb moisture. Where the straw has been previously coated with paraffine or a similar saturating wax, indicated at 41 in FIGURE 2, the curled or tipped portion is rendered additionally impervious to moisture. Moreover, additional resistance to moisture deterioration, as well as added strength, can be obtained by further applications of wax. I have particularly found that such additional coating of wax tends to fill the void between the inner layer 33 and the remaining portions of the straw, as represented at 43 in FIGURE 2. Upon solidifying, the added wax provides characteristics of toughness and semirigidity to the reinforced tip that permits it to effectively resist collapse and moisture deterioration throughout all normal use, including use by children.

While it is customary to employ paraffine or wax in conventional straw manufacture, it is possible to use plastic or similar solidifying compositions in place of these materials. By way of illustration, straws having tips of exceptional strength and durability can be obtained by employing polyethylene, acrylate or other polymer resins for the initial coating 41 and/ or additional coatings 43.

For many purposes, it is desirable that both ends of the straw be reinforced. This is accomplished by performing the operations above described on both ends of the straw. The end product of this processing, comprising a straw reinforced at either end, is illustrated in FIG- URE 3.

In some cases, it is also desirable to provide an embodiment of the present invention wherein the reinforced straw includes a flexed portion intermediate its ends. Such flexed portion of the straw can comprise a circumferentially scored, axially compressed section of the straw wherein the collapsed scored sections form corrugations, for example, as illustrated at 50 in FIGURE 4. As will be understood by those in this art, such a straw construction is freely flexible in the zone of corrugations, so that end portions of the straw may be displaced relative to one another. Such straws are very useful, for example, when used in conjunction with bottles, tall glasses, and the like.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that my new straw construction provides numerous advantages, including a capacity of the reinforced .tip, or tips, to resist a normal tendency to deform or col-lapse as a result of continued use. Moreover, the flow path through the straw does not clog or become blocked during normal use, due to failure or deterioration of the straw material. My new straws can also be produced relatively inexpensively on existing machinery modified for the purpose. Many additional advantages will be apparent to those conversan-t with this art, as well as varied and different applications and embodiments of the invention, the specific disclosures herein being intended as illustrative and not in any sense limiting.

I claim:

-1. A drinking straw, a tubular elongate member having mi a uniform relatively small diameter throughout its length, said member having an end portion folded inwardly about a circular fold line into one end of the tubular member to provide a cylindrical reinforcing portion at said end of said tubular member for resisting inward deformation or collapse of the straw when it is used by the user as a drinking straw, said reinforcing portion being concentric with the tubular member and having all portions thereof substantially abutting the inner wall of the tubular member, said reinforcing portion being integral with the tubular member, the bending of the reinforcing portion about the circular fold line presenting a smooth rounded outer end for insertion into the mouth of the user.

2. A drinking straw as in claim 1 wherein said tubular elongate member is formed of paper.

3. A drinking straw as in claim 1 wherein said tubular member is formed of a plastic material.

4. A drinking straw as in claim 1 wherein said tubular member is coated with a solidifying protective material.

5. A drinking straw as in claim 4 wherein said solidifying protective material is a saturating wax.

6. A drinking straw as in claim 4 wherein said solidifying protective material is a moisture resistant plastic composition.

7. In a drinking straw of generally tubular construction, reinforcing means associated with an end of the straw and adapted to resist inward collapse of the straw material, said means comprising an uncut end portion of the straw deformed a substantial distance inwardly to form a generally tubular substantially axially aligned concentric inner layer spaced from remaining portions of the straw, said deformed end portion being integral with the remaining portions of the straw and presenting a smooth rounded unbroken tip portion, and a solidifying protective material coating said straw, said solidifying protective material filling the space between said inwardly deformed end portion and remaining portions of the straw and completely V coating said inner layer to further reinforce and strengthen the reinforced end of the straw.

8. In a drinking straw of generally tubular construction, means reinforcing an end of the straw and adapted to resist inward collapse of the straw material, said means comprising an uncut end portion of the straw deformed a substantial distance inwardly to form a generally tubular substantially axially aligned concentric inner layer, said inner layer having an axial dimension at least one-half the diameter of said drinking straw, said deformed end portion presenting a smooth rounded unbroken tip portion integral with said inner layer and with remaining portions of the straw, said inner layer being held by said integral tip portion in spaced concentric relation within the body of the straw, said straw being coated and impregnated with a saturating wax which completely coats and protects said inner layer and fills the space between said inner layer and adjacent body portions of the straw, said saturating wax further reinforcing and strengthening said reinforced end of the straw.

9. A drinking straw as in claim 8 wherein a plurality of transverse corrugations are provided intermediate the ends of said straw, said straw being freely'fiexible in the zone of said corrugations.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,813,285 Galetschky July 7, 1931 1,854,297 Garling Apr. 19, 1932. 1,944,970' Dieifenbach June 30, 1934 2,150,439 Hamilton Mar. 14, 1939 2,279,396 Hanson Apr. 14, 1942' 2,288,966 Blanchet July 7, 1942 2,550,797 Friedman May 1, 1951 2,613,107 Hartnett Oct. 7, 1952 2,724,536 Pugh Nov. 22, 1955 

1. A DRINKING STRAW, A TUBULAR ELONGATE MEMBER HAVING A UNIFORM RELATIVELY SMALL DIAMETER THROUGHOUT ITS LENGTH, SAID MEMBER HAVING AN END PORTION FOLDED INWARDLY ABOUT A CIRCULAR FOLD LINE INTO ONE END OF THE TUBULAR MEMBER TO PROVIDE A CYLINDRICAL REINFORCING PORTION AT SAID END OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER FOR RESISTING INWARD DEFORMATION OR COLLAPSE OF THE STRAW WHEN IT IS USED BY THE USER AS A DRINKING STRAW, SAID REINFORCING PORTION BEING CONCENTRIC WITH THE TUBULAR MEMBER AND HAVING ALL PORTIONS THEREOF SUBSTANTIALLY ABUTTING THE INNER WALL OF THE TUBULAR MEMBER, SAID REINFORCING PORTION BEING INTEGRAL WITH THE TUBULAR MEMBER, THE BENDING OF THE REINFORCING PORTION ABOUT THE CIRCULAR FOLD LINE PRESENTING A SMOOTH ROUNDED OUTER END FOR INSERTION INTO THE MOUTH OF THE USER. 